The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-07-17

| v" NR~ ~ ~ ClOCtIiC CdOiC, Wullt
another has gained great distinction
in the practice Of law. The lives of
lew public men have been so varied
and stirring as that Of Justice Field.
Sent to Greece at the age of thirteen
that he might perfect himself in the
study OF language, he returned after
nearly three years in Athens and
Smyrna, to enter Williams College,
from which he was a graduate in
1887. His preceptor in law was his
distinguished brother, David bud.
ley, with whom he remained in New
York until 184S, when he again Wis
tied Europe. Returning in 1919, he
joined the "Argonauts" who sought
their fortunes in the gold fields OF
California, and upon his arrival there
was elected the first alcalde Of Mays
vile. In administering the old Mex
lean laws IN the midst Of a disorder
ly state Of society, Mr.. Field had
many an exciting adventure. A mem
Der Of the California Legislature in
1850, he may be said to have been
almost the father of the judiciary
system, and OF the civil and criminal
codes Of procedure in the new State.
ln 1887 he went upon the Supreme
bench OF California, and in 1859 be-
came Chief Justice OF the State.
During this time he did the State
most estimable service by his iufu-
ence in securing the passage of the
law placing real estate titles on a
solid basis, and by decisions on the
subject, in which he delivered the
opinions Of the court. He became
Associate Justice of the United
States Supreme Court in 1865, and
in the last twenty-five years has
steadily grown in the respect Of his
colleagues, the bar and the country.
He was 4 candidate for the Demo-
cratic nomination for President
Of the United States in 1890.
Justice Fields residence is on First
street, east. facing the Capitol and
grounds. II is a historic house,
being part Of the building erected by
citizens Of Washington for the ac-
commodation Of Congress while the
Capitol was being rebuilt after its
destruction by the British in 1914.
In front OF it James Monroe and
John Quincy Adams were inaugu-
rated Presidents OF the! United States
aud within its walls Henry Clay re-
sided three terms as Speaker Of the
House. Subsequently it became a
boarding house, aud there dwelt
together Jefferson Davis, Robert
Toombs, Alexander Stephens aud
John @. Calhoun, who died there.
During the war il was used as a mill.
tary prison, but when peace was re-
stored il was remodeled into three
dwellings, one OF which was pur.
chased by Senator Evarts, another
by Gen. Mckee Dunn aud the third
by Cyrus W. Field, who presented it
70 his brother, the associate justice.
The librsry, where Justice Field
does his work, Is in an annex, also
fronting the Capitol aud park, and is
we'll furnished with books, while the
walls are covered with portraits,
either engravings or photographs.
The Justice himself is tall, stoops
slightly, has an unusually large head
(bald on the front aud top) aud full
beard. He wears gold spectacles
constantly, and carries his age so
lightly as to look at least twenty
years younger than he really is. His
extensive travels aud varied expert.
ence make him q most entertaining
conyersatiopalist anon almost any
subject.
In order to prevent President
johnson from filling the vacancy on
the Supreme bench in ls65-caused
by the death OF Justice Carton
Congress passed a Law forbiddiog the
appointment OF an associate justice
until the number should be reduced
TO six, but in 1869 il was increased 70
eight. William Strong. Of Pennsyl.
yania. and Joseph p. Bradley, Of
New Jersey, were appointed by Pres.
ident Grant. The former retired in
1880, having reached the age OF sew.
enty years and served continuously
ten years. Justice Bradley is still
upon the bench, and is the Oldest
member Of the Supreme Court, hav.
Ing beel horn at Berne, near Al.
bany, N. Y, 10 1913. His early edu.
cation was very limited, but
his thirst for knowledge was
Unsuitable, and il is related Of
him that when he was a charcoal
burner in the Heidelberg mountains
he used TO 20 10 Albany upon a load
Of con, studying latin on the way.
He was once asked what be intended
10 do when he grew 10 manhood, and
replied that he had not made up his
mind whether he would be President
Of the Unit ID States or Chief Justice
Of the Supreme Court. He began
teaching at the age OF sixteen, and
through the kindness OF q relative,
was enabled TO prepare for college
and 20 be graduated at RUTGERS In
1896. Among hts classmates we're
Frederick T. Frelioghuysen aud
Cortlandt Parker. lie chose the pro.
iession Of the law aud praciiced
thirty years. Having q taste for
politics, he was the Republican eau.
didate for Congress 10 fS6l, but was
defeated, aud In 1868 his name stood
at the head OF the Grant aud Coliax
electoral ticket 10 New Jersey.
The legal tender act had been de.
olarc1 unconstitutional by bare
majority Of the Supreme Court at a
time when there we're but seven a..
sociato justices, aud after the ap.
pointment OF Justices Strong aud
Bradley, the case va. rcargued aud
new decision rendered, In which
the two new Justices voted with the
former minority. This caused very
heated discussion among lawyers aud
publicists, aud Il was openly asserted
that those judges we're appointed Tor
the purpose OF securing a reversal OF
that decision. which, II IL had been
allowed 10 stand, might have proved
embarrassing 10 the government.
An earnest denial OF this was made
on behalf Of President Grant by his
friends. Whs assertad that tho An.